How much does it cost to make reservations between Vancouver and the Southern Gulf Islands?
How and when do I pay?
What credit cards are accepted by myBCFerries?

There is no additional fee for reservations on our Vancouver - Southern Gulf Islands service, beyond the regular vehicle and passenger fares. Our online Travel Planner automatically calculates these fares as you create each reservation. Then you provide your credit card information to confirm and fully prepay your reservation(s) when prompted by the system.

To view the vehicle and passenger fares, click here >>

The following credit cards are accepted:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express

If you need to change a reservation, a service fee will apply - see details below. 

Are reservations necessary?

Yes.  All available space on board Vancouver - Southern Gulf Islands ferries is reservable — so we strongly recommend making reservations as soon as your travel plans are firm.

If you are travelling on a long weekend or other peak travel period, please reserve well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Which routes are reservable online?

Online reservations are available on the following routes between Vancouver and the Southern Gulf Islands:

• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Salt Spring Island (Long Harbour )
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Saturna Island (Lyall Harbour )
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Pender Island  (Otter Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Galiano Island  (Sturdies Bay)
• Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Mayne Island  (Village Bay)

Reservations are not available for travel between Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands.

What type of vehicle can I reserve online? 

You can reserve any private passenger or recreational vehicle, with or without a trailer.  This includes cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, motorcycles and motorhomes — but does NOT include commercial vehicles (over 5,500 kg or 12,100 lb GVW) or groups (on foot, bicycle or in a bus).  Click here for information on Commercial Vehicle reservations >>

In order to reserve the correct type and amount of space for your vehicle, be ready to specify:

Vehicle Type - this includes:

• Cars/trucks/SUVs up to 7' (2.13 m) high
• Cars/trucks/SUVs over 7' (2.13 m) high
• Motorcycle
• Motorcycle with sidecar/trailer

Total Length - if your vehicle (or vehicle and trailer combination) is over 20 feet long, you'll need to tell us its total length when prompted by the Travel Planner. Note: Length information is not required for Motorcycles.

Reservations will be honoured only for the vehicle type (e.g. Underheight, Overheight, Motorcycle) and length (if applicable) you specify.  At check-in, if the actual length of your vehicle exceeds the reserved length by more than 5 feet, it may not be possible to honour your reservation.

For vehicles over 31 feet long, restrictions may apply depending on vessel and dock limitations.  Please phone our Customer Service Centre to discuss your travel options with one of our Customer Sales and Service Representatives.

Can I make a reservation if I'm travelling without my vehicle?

Reservations are not accepted for foot passengers unless there are 10 or more travelling together as a group.  For information see our Group Reservations page.

Can I change my reservation once I've made it?

Yes. Reservations can be changed up to 60 minutes prior to the reserved scheduled sailing's departure time. In most cases a $9.00 service fee will apply. If the total fare is less than $9.00, the service fee will be equal to the total fare. 

The fee is applied each time you change a one-way reservation.

To change a reservation, Log into your MyBCFerries account and click on View Reservations near the top of the screen. Then follow the onscreen prompts to change your reservation. You can also change your reservation by calling our Customer Service Centre.

Can I see personal reservations on-line that I have made by telephone?

Yes. Log into your MyBCFerries account and click on View Reservations near the top of the screen. 

NOTE: At present, reservations made through our automated touch-tone phone reservations system cannot be viewed through your MyBCFerries account. To review these reservations, please call our Customer Service Centre.

Can I make a reservation for someone else?

Yes.  If you are reserving for a family member or friend using your credit card, be sure to provide the travelling party with the Reservation Number.  This number must be provided upon check-in at the terminal to claim the reservation.

If you are a travel agent or hotel, you can make a courtesy reservation for your client or guest (not commissionable).  Please set up a myBCFerries account using your customer's name, address, etc. and pay the reservation fee with their credit card.  Print out the confirmation information for your customer and circle or highlight the Confirmation Number provided -- or ask your customer to make note of the Reservation Number and provide it when needed upon check-in.

Please be sure that the travelling party is aware of the Reservation Rules and Policies.  These are presented for acceptance during the reservation process, and key portions are repeated on the Confirmation page.

What if my sailing is cancelled?

Scheduled sailings may need to be cancelled from time to time as a result of heavy weather conditions, mechanical difficulties or other unforeseen circumstances.

If we are unable to accept your reservation because a sailing is cancelled, the prepaid vehicle and passenger fares will be refunded directly to your credit card. 

What if the sailing I want to reserve is sold out?
What is a waitlist?

To find out more information on fully reserved sailings or alternate routes to/from the Southern Gulf Islands, please contact our Customer Service Centre.

A Customer Sales and Service Representative may ask you if you would like to be put on a waitlist for a sold out sailing.  Our waitlist system is simple:  if existing reservations are cancelled, waitlisted customers are notified of the space availability and given an opportunity to reserve.  To use this service, please ensure that we have your most up-to-date contact information on hand (telephone number, fax number and/or e-mail address).

Can I find out about sailing waits and cancellations before I travel?

Yes. Information on sailings and traffic for our major terminals is constantly updated on our Current Conditions pages. To make sure you never miss an update, you can set up a MyBCFerries account and subscribe to receive e-mail notifications regarding changes or cancellations. You can also contact our Customer Service Centre.

How do I claim my reservation?

The fastest and easiest way to check in at the ticket booth is to:

• Present the credit card you used to make your reservation,
• Show a printout of your Reservation Confirmation page and/or confirmation e-mail,
• Provide your telephone number or,
• Quote the Reservation Number you received when your reservation was confirmed on-line.

Will printing details of my reservation(s) help at check-in?

When do I have to check in at the terminal?

Reservations for travel from Tsawwassen to the Southern Gulf Islands must be claimed at the ticket booth at least 40 minutes prior to the reserved sailing's scheduled departure time. For travel from the Gulf Islands to Tsawwassen, reservations must be claimed at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure.  Failure to meet these check-in times will result in the loss of your reserved status and you will travel as a "standby" customer.  If your vehicle does not board the reserved sailing then a service fee will apply. 

When will I receive my boarding pass?

Your boarding pass will be issued when you claim your reservation at the terminal.

What if there's a line-up outside the terminal?

When you arrive at the terminal, let our traffic control people know that you have a reservation. You will be directed to the appropriate check-in area.

I have a question that is not answered here. What should I do?

Phone our Customer Service Centre (1-888-BC FERRY/1-888-223-3779).

You can also e-mail your questions or comments to customerservice@bcferries.com.